How To Prepare

Before you visit, do your homework. Be well-versed in what the school has to offer and why that program is a good fit for you. You’ll want to feel confident in having conversations with both students and admissions representatives about your goals, reasons for pursuing your MBA, and why you want to be a part of their program.

Reach out to the admissions office well in advance to schedule time to sit in on a class, attend info sessions, take a campus tour, and/or meet with current students. Are you interested in any specific clubs or affinity groups? See if you can meet their leaders for coffee. Perhaps you’ll have success scheduling time with a professor who interests you (not always possible, so do be understanding.) If you have friends at the school, plan to take them out for a meal and listen to every story they’re willing to share.

Some MBA programs provide summer reading lists online. If you have time, try reading a book or two from the list, which can help get talking points with people you encounter.

When You’re Visiting

Dress neatly and in professional attire (sport coat and slacks is fine) and remember that every touch-point can impact your candidacy. Be gracious to anyone you encounter (including the receptionist), and be considerate about the amount of time you spend with them.

In addition to soaking in the experience, one of the best things you can do while on campus is ask intelligent questions. Probe into the school’s culture, alumni, courses that interest you, and how you can become involved in clubs through leadership opportunities. Avoid asking questions you can easily find the answers to online. Instead, gather data points that will help you assess your fit with the program, and potentially increase your chances of being admitted.

Bring business cards to stay in contact with people you meet, and have a notebook and pen on hand to take notes (not your phone!). Send thank you emails to people who were generous with their time. Most of all, bring an energetic and focused attitude with you.  This is your future at stake; don’t be distracted by work emails or your exhausting flight that night.  A warm smile and positive energy can make a lasting impression.

What If I Can’t Visit My Target Schools?

A school visit is an ideal way to gather insight about an MBA program.  In turn, it shows the admissions committee a strong level of interest, and they do track and consider your attendance. In today’s era of minimal essay questions, these data points are becoming increasingly important.

That said, candidates are applying from all over the world, and not everyone has the ability, time or financial resources to visit campus. Admissions officers truly understand this. It will not be held against you either way. (If you live in NYC and are applying to Columbia, however, you really don’t have an excuse.)

If you can’t visit in person, make every effort to attend the info sessions that the schools host in cities worldwide and/or MBA fairs they may be attending. Some programs also hold virtual campus tours and remote info sessions. If all else fails, look through your personal contacts and even your college alumni database and set up calls/meetings with people who have attended your target schools.  Beyond that, scour the online materials available (school websites, blogs, social media) and learn as much as you can about the programs, so that you come into the admissions process as knowledgeable as you can be.

[For help with planning your school visits, or general MBA admissions advice, contact us at info@shineadmissions.com]

© Shine/ MBA Admissions Consulting

For many prospective business school applicants, their first encounter with the GMAT or GRE comes as a bit of a shock.  The predominant reaction is:  What the heck does this stuff have to do with business school anyway?  Geometry, rate questions, correcting grammatical errors…how can this be the measure of potential success in business school?

The Real Nature of the GMAT and GRE

What most people don’t realize is that the GMAT and GRE are really reasoning tests -– they give business schools a view into applicants logical reasoning, problem solving, and analytical abilities. Sure, a firm grasp of the quantitative and verbal foundation of these questions helps, but that’s not all it takes. And a less-than-perfect grasp of the foundation can often be overcome by good, old-fashioned reasoning and smart problem solving.

Business schools know that incoming students are going to be inundated with lots and lots of new information. They are not looking for students who can memorize and regurgitate that information; they are looking for people who can think critically and solve problems creatively. The GMAT and GRE are designed to reward those kinds of skills and punish attempts to just memorize rules and formulas.

How Can This Help With Test Preparation?

Most people never quite realize this fact, so their scores suffer. They prepare for the GMAT and GRE like they would prepare for a final exam and then don’t understand why all of that “studying” did not pay off. Instead, it’s important to align yourself with what the exam really measures. Quantitative questions cannot be seen as just “math” questions; they need to be viewed as “problems” that need to be solved. And often a creative approach to the questions — especially the hard ones — is rewarded over straight-forward math.

The same holds true on the Verbal sections of the exams. For example, Sentence Correction on the GMAT would seem on the surface to be a measure of one’s grammar knowledge. However, Sentence Correction questions are as much about logical thinking and analytical ability as they are about grammar, if not more. Spotting a seemingly minor difference in the answer choices, for example, is about having the analytical eye to look for and locate that difference in the first place.

Testing Time Management Skills

Another feature of the tests that most people bemoan is the seemingly unfair time constraint. Yet again, this aspect of the tests is indeed related to business school success. In graduate school, you will have way too much to do and not enough time in which to do it. To succeed, you have to be very good at prioritizing and managing your time so that you can accomplish what is essential and let go of what is less important. And so the GMAT and GRE challenge test takers by giving them less time than they probably need to perfectly accomplish the task.

Moving Toward an Appreciation of the Tests

Where does all of this lead? First and foremost, we hope it changes your perspective from hating the tests to appreciating why they are relevant. This does not mean that if you do not achieve a really high score you are not meant for business school. The GMAT and GRE are just one factor among many considered, and there are plenty of people who struggle with the exams and are enormously successful in business school. But by understanding the tests for what they are, the job of preparing for them becomes much more palatable, perhaps even enjoyable. And the byproduct of that will almost certainly be greater success on the tests.

[Brian Prestia is a NYC-based and online GMAT and GRE tutor with a near perfect score on both exams and over decade of experience preparing people for the tests. To learn more please visit www.reasongmat.com or www.gretutoringnyc.com .] 

[For general MBA admissions advice, contact Shine at info@shineadmissions.com]

© Shine/ MBA Admissions Consulting

Whether you’re gathering information about your target programs, preparing for your standardized test, or looking for the best approaches to a particular essay question, our most recent client alumni recommended the following resources. Note: this list is purely client-driven and not filtered by us. 

Test Prep

To help increase their test scores by those precious points, our clients reported that they took advantage of the following publications, websites, practice tests, private tutors, and prep classes:

• Varsity Prep
• Manhattan Prep
• Kaplan
• Princeton Review
• Dominate Test Prep
• Advantage Testing
• GMAT Club  
• GMAT Hacks
• Khan Academy
• The Official Guide to GMAT Review by GMAC  
• Game Plan for the GMAT by Brandon Royal
• Target Test Prep
• Magoosh
• City Test Prep

School & Admissions Insights  

There’s no question that your research should begin at the source, namely:

• School websites/blogs/social media pages
• Campus visits
• Conversations with students/alumni

Beyond that, our clients cited the following publications as the most helpful to them for insight and advice:

• Shine blog (Illuminations)
• US News & World Report school profiles
• Bloomberg Businessweek MBA articles
• Clear Admit
• Poets and Quants
• Beat The GMAT
• GMAT Club
• Stacy Blackman blog
• Vince Prep blog
• Adam Markus blog
• MBA Mission resources
• Admissionado blog
• Unofficial HBS Admissions & Interview Guide by Harbus
• How To Get Into The Top MBA Programs by Richard Montauk
• 65 Successful Harvard Business School Application Essays by Dan Erck
• The Complete Start-to-Finish MBA Admissions Guide by Jeremy Shinewald
• Great Applications for Business School, 2nd Edition by Paul Bodine
• 50 MBA Essays That Worked by Admissionado
  

[For additional applicant resources, or general MBA admissions advice, contact us at  info@shineadmissions.com

An MBA is likely to be the last substantial formal education you undertake in your lifetime. It will be expensive. It will be difficult. And you’re going to be a little bit older when you’re done. (You’ll probably feel a little bit older just after applying!) Suffice it to say, you’re going to need to do your due diligence. So, how should you go about this? Here’s a rough guide to researching business schools.

Establish your needs

It’s hard to find something if you don’t know what you’re even looking for. So try to establish as much as possible about what you want and need from an MBA before getting started. Naturally, points you hadn’t considered will come up as you get further along. To begin though, think about career outcomes, how you like to learn, where you want to be based.  Then, realistically gauge how strong a candidate you are. Sure, it sounds dreamy to study at Stanford, but don’t waste your time if you know you won’t be able to compete. Besides, maybe you wouldn’t even be happy there; it’s all about finding the right fit. (You’ll be sick of the word “fit” by the time you apply…)  That may just be found at one of the many other high caliber business schools out there.

Online research

Almost inevitably, your search will start online. And you’re in luck, because there is no shortage of resources out there to help you get some insight into what is being offered. Take a look at discussion forums to find out what sort of questions other people in the same boat are asking, and the answers that they have been given. Take a look at one of the many sites out there that offer insight and advice to MBA applicants (like, ahem, TopMBA.com). Look at some rankings too, but don’t get too hung up on these, as they don’t account for your specific personal needs, based as they are on methodologies derived by fallible human beings. And, of course, look at school websites. You should be able to get at least a sense of what a school is about from them. You should also be able find annual reports on class profiles and employment, which should give you an idea of who’s coming in and who’s going out.

MBA events

No matter how good at Google you are, there are some questions to which you just won’t be able to find the answer to online, and there are some conversations that are just better having in person. Does this mean traipsing out to every school about which you are curious? Well, you could do that. Or you could attend an MBA fair (another shameless plug: the QS World MBA Tour is a good example). Multiple top schools attend these events, sending expert members of their admissions teams to answer the queries and concerns of prospective MBA applicants. You might even discover, through conversations, that a school that you hadn’t even considered is in possession of the other half of that heart-shaped locket you’ve been wearing round your neck. You’ll also be able to chat with alumni (more on this later), attend panels, and take part in workshops designed to help you choose and get into your target school.

Have some conversations

As well as talking to schools at fairs, you should try and stay in touch with a school’s admissions team, who will be eager to help you learn more about their institution. Remember, always check that the information isn’t available elsewhere before making that call or sending that email. You want to stay on their good side, after all, and you’ll get the information more quickly. You should also – and this one is Very Important – speak with alumni from the school. The school will help you track some down, or you could use your own network, search on LinkedIn, or attend one of the aforementioned events. Alumni will be able to give you a first-hand perspective of what it’s like to study at the school, what types of students the school attracts, and what kind of graduates they become. These may well be the most-important conversations you have. (Or maybe the second – after your friends and family who, by virtue of being at one step removed, may be able to offer you some insight into the whole thing…and about yourself!)

A consultant can help

Though the number of applicants who employ the services of an MBA admissions consultant is not definitively known, it is safe to say that a good proportion of applicants do so.  Particularly those applying to the very top schools. A consultant can help match your profile with a number of target schools and then improve your chances of getting in, providing guidance throughout the admissions process. A really good, experienced consultant (such as our friends at Shine!) will be able to provide nearly unparalleled insight into the whole process, as they’ve been there so many times before. But of course, research the consultant you use.  Find one who is ethical, has high standards of professionalism, proven success, and comes recommended from sources you trust.

School visits

When you’ve narrowed down your list, it can be really useful to head out to the school for a visit. Your day’s activities can usually be arranged through the admissions team. This will allow you to see and hear firsthand the experiences of those currently studying there. Many schools will let you sit in on a class or have lunch with a student. Look out for MBA experience days, offered by many schools, which are designed specifically to let prospective applicants get a feel for the school. Some schools offer virtual tours, which cater to those who can’t make it all the way out.

Your research style is of course as individual as you are; there’s no set way to go about choosing the right school, and no one thing that can claim to be universally the most important factor in school choice. It is, ultimately, up to you!

The QS World MBA Tour is taking place across the US and Canada in September and October. Find out more and register for free entry (a savings of $15 US) as a Shine / MBA Admissions Consulting blog subscriber by clicking here

About the author: Mansoor Iqbal is the editor of TopMBA.com–the place to learn about MBAs, see the latest QS top MBA rankings and meet the best business schools in the world. He is a higher and business education specialist, with a background in consumer journalism.

For assistance with school selection, or for general MBA admissions advice, contact Shine at info@shineadmissions.com]

© Shine/ MBA Admissions Consulting, August 18, 2015, 8:32am PT

And as any good marketer knows, the key to marketing success is a solid brand foundation. It’s impossible to market a brand effectively if you don’t know what it stands for.  Similarly, before jumping into the application process, it’s important that you understand your own personal brand and have the same sense of clarity about yourself.

You may have heard the marketing terms “brand identity” or “brand positioning statement.”  Branding a human is a very similar exercise.  While there are a number of relevant elements that can comprise one’s personal brand, if you focus on these five, you’ll be off to a running start:

Mission

What gets you out of bed on a daily basis?  What do you aspire to accomplish today, or tomorrow?  Take a nearer-term view and think about the immediate impact you intend to have.  In b-school terms, this is your short-term career goal.

Vision

What is your overall reason for being?  Your ultimate dream?  What is the impact you hope to have on your future organization, future customers, a community, an entire nation, or just a single person?  In MBA application terms, this is your long-term career goal.  Think big.  This should be your ongoing source of inspiration.

Values

What is important to you?  What do you believe in?  By what criteria do you make decisions?  What are your priorities?  How do you choose spend your time—e.g. with what types of activities, organizations, or people?  What qualities do they all share?  Brainstorm broadly, then consolidate your list to six or eight core values.

Personality

Hewlett-Packard and Apple both make computers, though each brand has a very different personality.  What is your brand like?  What are your attributes and characteristics, both in a professional setting and in your personal life?  These qualities show off your style and help foster a connection with your target audience.

Positioning Statement

A brand positioning statements defines how you are differentiated from your competitors.  What do you uniquely have to offer?  What can you promise (and deliver on) that others can’t?  Then, include three good reasons why we should believe you. Once your personal brand is completed, keep in on your desk to guide you as you’re putting together your resume and essays, preparing your recommenders, and practicing for your interviews.

Remember, no other MBA candidate is exactly like you.  And before your own marketing process can begin, you’ve got to know what your brand is all about and why yours is the most compelling choice.

[For help with your personal branding, or for general MBA admissions advice, please contact us at info@shineadmissions.com]

© Shine/ MBA Admissions Consulting, 2019, All rights reserved.

Relax. These details won’t be the determining factor of whether you are accepted. However, a compelling, polished resume makes a positive first impression and sets the stage for the rest of your application. The following tips will get you off on the right foot:

Format

• There are no requirements on style, so just use your best judgment. The key is to make it neat, professional well-organized, consistent, and easy to navigate.
• When in doubt, you can’t go wrong with Times New Roman font. Traditional as it is, it’s gold standard for a resume. 10-point is the smallest you should go.
• Leave some white space around your margins, entries, and section breaks. It gives your content breathing room and avoids a cluttered appearance.
• The rule of thumb, among admissions officers and corporate recruiters alike, is one resume page per 10 years of work experience. That means, if you’re a typical full-time MBA candidate, your resume should be no more than one page. Enough said.

Layout

• Don’t waste valuable real estate on an executive summary. Your skills and objectives will be clear from the rest of your resume and application.
• At a minimum, include three sections (in this order): Education, Experience, Personal. If your employer is more prestigious than your university, you can swap the first two.
• As appropriate, include additional sections to call out strengths in your candidacy such as Community, Certifications, and/or Skills. Those belong toward the end, just before Personal.

Education

• List your institution, location, degree, major, minor/concentrations, and graduation year. Include GPA if it’s impressive, if not, leave it off.
• Include any honors or awards you earned.
• Mention your thesis, publications or relevant research you may have completed.
• Provide all of the activities you participated in, highlighting all leadership positions. This may include student clubs, sports, volunteer work, part-time jobs—anything that shows you as an active and engaged student.
• There’s no need to list relevant coursework, since adcomm will have your transcript.
• High school and SAT/ACT scores have no place on your resume.

Experience

• List your organization name, location and years of employment.
• We strongly recommend opening with a mini-paragraph describing your general roles and responsibilities for each position. In other words, what job were you hired to do?
• Then, list three to five bullet points highlighting your most significant achievements, projects, leadership roles, initiatives, and quantifiable results. In other words, what was your individual impact?  This separates the men from the boys.
• Additional bullets can highlight company activities you’re involved in (e.g. community work, recruiting, training, softball), fast-track promotions, or awards/honors.
• As needed to save space, whittle down your internships into shorter entries.

Personal*

• List your interests, hobbies, extra-curriculars, volunteer work, international experience, interesting skills, sports leagues, favorite past-times–again, highlighting any leadership roles.
• One to three lines here is generally sufficient.

* Why do we consider the Personal section a must? Because business schools genuinely want to get to know you outside of your career.  Perhaps you have special knowledge (e.g. fluency in five languages) that will add value to the class.  Or interesting hobbies that classmates would enjoy sharing with you (e.g. a love of food/wine, co-ed soccer or skiing).  Or, you might just forge a common bond with your reader.  In any case, it will show you as an interesting, well-rounded person. And in MBA admissions, that’s the name of the game.

[For help in writing your resume, or for general MBA application advice, please contact us at info@shineadmissions.com]

© Shine/ MBA Admissions Consulting, June 26 2015, 10:05am PST

How Prepared Were You, Really?

How many weeks/months did you study? Did you use the best materials available, whether through a prep course or independent study? Did you take several full-length practice tests in test-like conditions (e.g. timed, no distractions, without stopping)? If you didn’t truly give preparation your all, you will likely be surprised to see how much you can improve with a head-down, intensive study effort.

For a personal anecdote, I came into my prep course scoring a 590. 6 weeks later, after a hardcore study effort, I earned a 740 on test day. GMAT tutors regularly score 800s when they sit for the exam – are they all prodigies, or freaks of nature? No. They’ve just dedicated themselves to mastering the material. And you can too. It’s entirely learnable.

Did You Face Extenuating Circumstances on Test Day?

Were you completely prepared only to find yourself sick the morning of the exam? Or distracted by a major life crisis? Did you just have an unexplainable “off” day? If you had been scoring well on your practice exams, then certainly make the effort to give it another go. Don’t leave anything on the table.

Were You a Bundle of Nerves?

Do you have such major performance anxiety that, despite scoring well on your practice exams, you just can’t pull it off anything close when it counts. You’re not alone. Everyone from athletes to singers/actors to politicians/executives have learned to manage their nerves on “the big day” through professional counseling, self-help books, meditation, yoga, courses and coaching dedicated to performance anxiety. One interesting option is through Test Prep NY/SF  who has a specialized practice for anxious GMAT takers. Your willingness to invest in this area will benefit you throughout your career.

Where Do You Fall Within the Class Profile?

Look up the class profiles online for your target schools. Most schools publish an 80% GMAT range – i.e. the range of GMAT scores in which 80% of last year’s class fell. Your goal should be to score as high as possible within that range. If your dream school’s 80% GMAT range is 650-750 and you have a 640, then just know that your score is lower than at least 90% of their current students. (Yes 90%. Don’t forget the 10% who scored above 750.)  Is that where you want to position yourself?  We think it would be a smart idea for you to hit the books again. Moreover, if your score is in range but very lopsided (e.g. 50% Q and 98% V), it may be worth retaking the exam to boost your quant score.

What Kind of Increase Can You Expect?

According to a GMAC study, the average gain from taking the GMAT a second time was 33 points. However, the higher the initial score, the smaller the gain. Those with initial scores of 500-590 improved an average of 30 points on their second attempt, yet for those whose initial scores were 700+, the average gain was only eight points. Additionally, 25% actually scored lower on their second attempt. As for third and fourth attempts, those who had already hit the 600+ mark saw very little improvement.

Have You Already Taken it Enough Times?

If you’ve taken the exam three, four, five times and still do not have the results you were hoping for, it’s time to move on. The admissions committee would honestly rather see you focus on the other aspects of your application at that point. If your profile still lacks a strong quantitative component, find other ways to prove yourself:  step up for a data analysis project at work, enroll in a statistics or finance class at your local college and get an A.  Or if you have time to spare, perhaps the GRE is a good alternative for you.

Ultimately, while the GMAT is very important, it is not the sole determinant of your success/failure in the application process. So before losing faith in your existing score, consider how it fits in with your entire profile: academic, professional, extracurricular, and personal. You just might be in better shape than you think.  If not, it may be time to revise your list of target schools to those more in line with your performance.

[We’d like to thank Brett Ethridge, Founder of Dominate The GMAT, for his contributions to this post.]

[To discuss whether your GMAT is competitive enough for your target schools, or for general MBA admissions advice, contact us at info@shineadmissions.com]

© Shine/ MBA Admissions Consulting, May 2 2015, 11:02am MT

Fit, Not Rankings

Ranking can be a helpful starting point, but they should NOT be your primary factor in school selection. Instead, determine the strongest programs in your areas of interest, taking into account the opportunities you can gain both inside and outside of the classroom. Does the school’s curriculum and electives meet your academic needs? Do the companies you want to work for recruit on campus (and does that matter to you)? Are there extracurricular activities that will enable you to connect with like-minded students or attend relevant events? Also consider the school’s location, culture, learning environment, and whether you can make connections through an active alumni network.

Attend MBA Fairs

MBA fairs are a great opportunity to attend admissions panels in your city. It’s also a great time to pick up tips on the GMAT and speak directly with admissions officers from your target schools. Book one-on-one sessions when you can, which offer a great chance to build a relationship with the school’s admissions team. To prepare, do your homework and come in with thoughtful questions beyond what you can find on the schools’ websites. And remember that every interaction reflects you as a candidate. Be courteous, friendly and professional to everyone you meet, and show your enthusiasm for the school. Have business cards and your resume on hand. Most of all, keep an open mind. You just might discover a new favorite program.

Schedule a Campus Visit

The very best way to get a sense of a program is to visit it firsthand. Contact the school well in advance to schedule a time to take a tour, meet with current students/professors, and sit in on a class. Dress professionally, check in with admissions when you arrive, and remember to make a positive impression at every touch point. And remember: this is a research opportunity for you. Talk with lots of people to get differing viewpoints on the culture, extracurriculars, alumni, and programming—and take notes to potentially reference those anecdotes in your applications.  If you can’t travel to campus, find current students and alumni to talk with and gather those same insights. Tap into your college alumni database, friends, colleagues for contacts. If you come up empty-handed, the admissions office might have student ambassadors willing to talk with prospective applicants.

Above all else, trust your instincts. Rankings change, life plans change. If a school feels like an ideal fit and it can propel you toward your goals, consider those factors most closely.

PS – there’s no such thing as a “safety school” when applying to a top-20 school. Be smart and throw your hat in the ring at sufficient number of schools. From our experience that means no fewer than four, ideally six or up to eight.

[To determine the best MBA programs for you, or for general MBA admissions advice, contact us at info@shineadmissions.com]

© Shine/ MBA Admissions Consulting, April 16 2015, 10:30am MT

Analytical Writing Assessment

As you likely know, The Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) essay is the first section of the GMAT. The task is for you to read and analyze a short argument and then critique it on the basis of its use of logic and data.

One of the most important things to remember is that you must not take sides. Rather, consider your position like that of a professor grading a term paper: you are not so much concerned with the inherent truth or falsehood of the writer’s position as you are with how well constructed, supported and reasoned you find the argument to be.

Planning the essay begins with dissecting the stimulus. You must determine what is the author’s conclusion, what evidence does the author use to support this conclusion and what are the gaps are between the evidence and conclusion–the assumptions. There are many types of assumptions but they can generally be divided into unproven premises the author is taking for granted and potential outside factors the author is ignoring.

Dealing with your assumptions will be the meat of your essay. For example, your stimulus might argue that cigarettes are declining in popularity because of a recent Surgeon General’s report detailing the negative health consequences of smoking. One of your body paragraphs can attack this argument by pointing out that the author is assuming the report has caused the decline in smoking–a causality assumption. You would go on to add that extremely high state and federal taxes on tobacco products could have made smoking unaffordable to smokers or that health reports about the negative consequences of smoking have been issued with regularity for decades without comparable drops in smoking levels.

Other points of attack for your essay can be vague terms critical to an argument’s success or failure. For example, a stimulus might argue against the approval of a cancer drug because there is a “high risk of serious side effects.” You could attack this by first pointing out that a statistic would be far more convincing than an adjective. You could further argue that it would be helpful to know what types of cancer the drug treats, how effective it is at doing so and what is the usual prognosis of patients with those cancers. If the drug triples the life expectancy of those with pancreatic cancer, then its side effects, however severe, can be regarded as trivial. If, however, the drug is merely another form of treatment for prostate cancer, which already has high cure rates, than it may not be worth the risk.

Finally, arguments can have obvious common sense flaws that need to be addressed. For example an argument might propose a marathon for the city of Cincinnati one week after the New York Marathon to capitalize on the publicity of the famous race. This argument, however, fails to consider that the best runners in the world run the New York race and will likely be recuperating a week after, or that comparison to the much better established race might be unfavorable and lead runners and sponsors to not take it seriously.

Now your essay should not leave the audience without any hope for the stimulus under review. In your conclusion you should suggest gathering evidence that would validate the assumptions: perhaps a survey or a comparison of existing records.

Integrated Reasoning

The Integrated Reasoning (IR) section is the new kid on the GMAT block, added in 2012 in place of the old issue Essay. The basic purpose of the IR section is to ascertain how well you can navigate multiple sources of media to answer questions in a short span of time. Thus all integrated reasoning questions are based on some combination of reading passage, chart, table or graph. Visual media are frequently sortable or contain tabs. Interestingly, on this one section of the test, you also have access to an on-screen calculator.

There is no one strategy for such a disparate lot but there is some effective general advice. First, always skim the passages and charts before looking at the questions. This will allow you to gain your own understanding and observe any trends in data. Second, you should estimate the answers to math problems when possible as answers are often far enough apart to do so. Third, move quickly. There’s a lot of data to get through and most questions have multiple parts. Almost no one gets them all right in 30 minutes and you don’t need to get an 8. One of the points of the exercise is to see how well you respond to this time pressure. So treat IR like battlefield surgery: go through your 12 cases knowing in advance that you’re going to lose some of them and devote your energy to the 8-10 that you can save. Finally, practice! The best resource available is the set of 50 questions that comes with the GMAT Review 13^th Edition and the GMAT Guide 2015.

An October 2014 Kaplan survey of over 200 admissions staff found that 60% did not yet give much weight to the new section when considering an applicant. As admissions personnel grow more comfortable with the new section, they’ll have a better sense of how to weigh an IR score into their overall appraisal–so you can’t assume the IR score won’t matter in 2020. You also can’t ignore the 40% of survey respondents who already give weight to IR scores. Finally, a very low essay or IR score is going to draw the wrong kind of attention to your application and that is something you should never risk. Thus, the safest course is to do the best you can on both sections.

 [NextStep Test Prep is a leading provider of 1-on-1 tutoring for the GRE and GMAT. To learn more, click here to schedule a free consultation.  For general MBA admissions advice, contact Shine at info@shineadmissions.com]

© Shine/ MBA Admissions Consulting, April 1, 2015, 10:30am MT

A spot on the waitlist means the admissions committee liked something they saw in you; this is positive feedback!  And every year, business schools admit people from their waitlists.  Here’s how you can best position yourself for a spot in the class.

Follow The Instructions

Take a close look at the waitlist correspondence you received. First and foremost, respond in a timely manner to accept or decline your waitlist spot.  Second, know what the admissions committee’s policy is on additional communications or submissions.  Some admissions committees are very open to hearing from you and/or receiving additional materials throughout the waitlist period, while others explicitly say not to contact them. Always follow their instructions.

If They Will Accept Additional Submissions…

Begin by writing a brief, enthusiastic letter confirming your interest in attending the program.  Passion goes a long way in standing out from other waitlist candidates.  Second, provide any updates since you applied that add value to your profile. Did you receive a promotion at work? Have you just passed your CFA exam?  Have you traveled internationally?  Are you the new events chair for your volunteer organization? Third, update them on any new efforts you’ve made to learn more about the program. Conversations with students/alumni, info sessions and campus visits are a great way to confirm your fit and show your interest.  Then, mark your calendar to send a fresh new version of this letter monthly.  Stay on the admissions committee’s radars and let them know that your dedication hasn’t waned.

An additional letter of recommendation can also be very helpful at this point, especially if your recommender is an alum or has a connection with the school community.  As always though, the best recommender is someone writing from his/her direct experience with you.

Candidacy Enhancement

During this period, it can be easy to sit back and wait for the “yes” or “no” answer.  Instead, be introspective about what may have given the admissions committee pause and take active steps to enhance your candidacy.  Take on an independent consulting project in your target field, join an industry association and/or attend conferences and events in your target field.  Sharpen your quantitative skills by taking an accounting, finance, or statistics class and acing it.  Retake the GMAT or the GRE if your scores were on the cusp.  If you’re lucky, the school you’re waitlisted at might even be willing to offer you feedback.  Very few schools will do this (Tuck is one of them), but if you’re able to get direction from admissions on areas where they’d like to see you improve, take advantage of it.  It will also demonstrate your willingness to adapt and grow.

Contingency Planning

There are no guarantees in the waitlist world, which means you have no choice but to put Plan B in motion. That may mean putting your deposit down on a different school and finding housing. It may mean pursuing other ways to progress in your career. Or it may mean preparing to reapply to business school next year–in which case you should take a step back and seriously evaluate why you were not successful this year.  Do you need to lower your expectations?  Strengthen your candidacy?  Step up for more leadership roles?  Reassess your career goals?  Or perhaps you just need put more effort into your applications.  An admissions consultant such as Shine can help you evaluate where you may have fallen short and improve your chances of success.

Finally, if you are no longer considering a program that has waitlisted you, show compassion for your fellow waitlisted applicants and contact the admissions committee to release your spot.  Who knows, someone might just do the same for you.

[To put together a waitlist strategy for your schools, or for general MBA admissions advice, contact us at info@shineadmissions.com]

© Shine/ MBA Admissions Consulting, March 18, 2015, 11:15am MT

6 Months Before the Deadline

If you still need to take (or retake) the GMAT or GRE, now is a great time. Not only can you give it your undivided attention but you also give yourself wiggle room should you need to take the exam again.

If you’re lacking in certain aspects of your undergraduate profile (limited quantitative experience, poor grades in business courses), you could also use this time to ace a local or online course in finance, statistics, or accounting. It’s never to late to show the admissions committee that you can handle the academic rigors of the program.

Additionally, this is a good time to reflect upon your leadership experience. If you fall short, find or create ways to take on more responsibility. Propose improving an area of your organization that is in need. Step up to be the captain of your recrational soccer team. If your personal passions have been pushed by the wayside, reconnect with them. Volunteer at the animal shelter. Train for your first half marathon. Finally, if you have yet to see the world, step up for a work project with international travel, or plan a summer trip overseas.

5 Months Before the Deadline

Start researching school websites to identify the MBA programs that suit you best. Beyond rankings and reputation, find programs that truly meet your needs—whether you are pursuing a specialized career track, thrive in a smaller class size, or want to maximize your recruiting prospects on the west.

You can also update and polish your resume at this point. Just leave room to add 1-2 new accomplishments that you can update just before submitting your applications. (If you hadn’t planned on doing anything resume-worthy over the next 6 months, please reconsider!)

This is also a good time to identify your potential recommenders. Ideally, you want someone you’ve reported to in some capacity, who thinks extremely highly of you, and who is willing to put this in writing for you. Reach out to them now so they can mentally prepare and budget time in their schedules for you. And so you can come up with a plan B in case they decline.

3-4 Months Before the Deadline

Now that you’ve chosen your target MBA programs, follow their blogs and social media pages to get as knowledgeable as you can. Attend MBA fairs and school info sessions to gain additional insight. And, if feasible, schedule a campus visit for when class is back in session. Doing so will give you unparalleled acuity into the curriculum, campus, and culture of the school. If you can’t travel, set up a phone meeting with current students or alumni.

Once essay questions are released, now is the time to start planning your content. Start with lots of brainstorming, then mapping out your content ideas across the entire application. Don’t just dive into each essay in a vacuum, without considering how it fits into the rest of the application package.

You can also sit down with your recommenders at this point and prepare them for their tasks at hand. Prepare a packet of information for them that will make their jobs as easy as possible. Include a list of their deadlines (earlier than yours!), your resume, career goals, reasons for pursuing your MBA, personal brand, and anything you’d like them to emphasize.

1-2 Months Before the Deadline

You should be in full essay-writing mode by now, though don’t forget the other aspects of your application. Leave ample time for the data form, which contains important questions that you’ll need to answer, and sometimes a number of short answer essays. Make sure your transcripts are in order, your test reports are submitted, and you’ve completed any other requirements.

Check in regularly with your recommenders to ensure that they’re on track with your deadlines. It’s your project to manage and your deliverable to complete.

At the same time, keep working hard on your essays. Anticipate numerous drafts and even some complete overhauls. It takes an enormous amount of diligence and effort to get them to the quality worthy of a top business school. Give your essays to two people you trust for final proofreading. It’s worth every ounce of effort in the end.

[For help planning for the upcoming applications season, or for general MBA admissions advice, contact us at info@shineadmissions.com]

© Shine/ MBA Admissions Consulting, March 2, 2015, 10:32am MT

Which One Plays to Your Strengths?

Both the GMAT and GRE assess your verbal and quantitative reasoning, writing, and critical thinking, though each tests these concepts in different way. If English is your second language, you may have an easier time with the GMAT since it does not directly test vocabulary. If you are a non-traditional candidate with a limited quantitative background, you may prefer the GRE which is considered less quantitatively rigorous.

What is Your Past Exam History?

Did you already take the GRE for prior graduate work, and you have a perfectly strong score in hand? Have you taken the GMAT three times and failed to achieve your desired results? Both would be compelling reasons to consider the GRE for your business school applications.

Are You Definitely on the Business School Track?

If you are considering other graduate programs besides business school, or if you are a joint degree candidate, the GRE may be your best investment. While many other masters programs accept the GRE, the GMAT is exclusively for business school applicants. So unless you are exclusively pursuing an MBA, the GRE is the more versatile option.

Do You Perform Better on One vs. the Other?

If you still can’t decide, take practice exams for each and see which one feels more intuitive. Both GMAC (GMAT) and ETS (GRE)  offer free exams on their website. Try them both on for size, and stick with the one that enables you to perform your best. That’s truly the only thing that matters to adcomms in the end.

[For personalized advice on choosing the right exam, or other MBA admissions questions, contact us at info@shineadmissions.com]

© Shine/ MBA Admissions Consulting

To begin wrapping your head around the Dos and Don’ts, here are a few items to keep in mind as you prepare:

• Remember the basics of interviewing: dress to impress, make eye contact, speak slowly and concisely, and smile.
• Bring hard copies of your resume. Business cards are not necessary.
• Be friendly, positive, and courteous to EVERYONE you meet: student ambassadors, interviewers, and the receptionist.
• Be prepared to interview with someone other than who you were expecting.
• Know your own story inside and out. It should be consistent with what you wrote in your application.
• Listen to the question. Answer exactly as it was asked.
• A good framework to set up your examples is: situation, actions, results, takeaways.
• Demonstrate your passion for the school. If you’re not accepted anywhere else, it may quickly become your top choice.
• Avoid asking questions that can be answered on the school’s website. Better topics are your areas of interest, school initiatives and your interviewers’ experiences.
• Write a thank-you note. Emails are fine. (Arguably your best bet, if you can have it in your interviewer’s inbox that night.)

[For guidance with interview preparation, mock interviews, or for general MBA admissions advice, contact us at info@shineadmissions.com]

© Shine / MBA Admissions Consulting, February 2 2015, 11:00am MT

Prepare for Interviews

Think it’s too early? Once you find out if you’ve been invited to interview, you won’t have much time to prepare. Get a head start now by researching commonly-asked questions and mapping out your responses. Spend time on interview report wikis where applicants have posted the questions they were asked, often just a few weeks ago in Round 1! Remind yourself of the details of several meaningful stories that could apply to a variety of interview question scenarios. Practice reciting them in the mirror or on video. Even better, hold mock interviews with friends or a Shine MBA admissions consultant.

Thank Your Recommenders

If you haven’t already done so, now is an ideal time to show your appreciation for the recommenders who have worked so hard for you over these last several weeks. Whether your budget allows for gift cards to a new restaurant, a nice bottle of wine, homemade treats, or a thoughtful card, your gesture of gratitude will go a long way.

Begin Round 3 Applications

Do you still have some programs you were planning to apply to in Round 3? After weighing the pros and cons, if you’re still on the Round 3 train, then leverage your current momentum. Get started now on your data forms and begin reflecting on your new sets of essay questions. Are you afraid that if you work hard on your Round 3 applications and get accepted to your Round 2 schools then you will have wasted your time? If that happens, then feel free to come back and use us as your punching bag.

Press On

Submitting your business school applications isn’t the end of the road. Continue building success stories in both your professional and personal life by gaining new skills, managing a new project, proposing an initiative, or stepping up to become the captain of your recreational soccer team. By the time you interview, you’ll have fresh new stories to share with the admissions committee, as well as a growing track record of accomplishments. Ones that could push you over the edge versus other candidates who chose to put their feet up on their desks instead. Or, in the unfortunate case that you’re not accepted, then you’ll have propelled yourself forward in other meaningful ways—and strengthened your candidacy for Round 1 next year.

[For help with preparing your business school applications, or for general MBA admissions advice, contact us at info@shineadmissions.com]

© Shine/ MBA Admissions Consulting, Thursday, January 15, 2:30pm MT

The data form is more than simply filling out your basic information. There are often challenging short answers buried within it, such as “What was your most significant accomplishment?” or “What are your immediate post-MBA goals?” These are questions are to be taken as seriously as the full length essays.

For this reason, we recommend tackling the data form (or at least reviewing it thoroughly) before diving headfirst into essay-writing. It will ensure you’re being strategic about your content for the entire application package, and that you don’t waste precious essay real estate on topics that you’ll already be telling them in your short answers.

(Note: pay attention to whether the short answers have character limits vs. word limits. You’d be surprised how many people miss this in their initial drafts.)

Thus, give the data form your full attention and a few days to complete. While you may feel that the employment section is repetitive with your resume, that’s ok—respond in that same level of detail. (You can even use the same wording.) Remember, these sections provide their first impressions and a critical snapshot of you: what you’ve accomplished or been challenged by in each job, defining moments in your career, honors, community work, extracurriculars, travel, even special talents and interests. At the end of the data form, you’ll have hopefully shown yourself as an accomplished and multi-faceted individual, and set the stage for a great set of essays to follow.

[For strategic advisement on your business school applications, or for general MBA admissions advice, contact us at info@shineadmissions.com]

© Shine/ MBA Admissions Consulting, November 24, 2014, 11:30am MT

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

Know that the schools truly will not hold it against you if you live far from campus and can’t make the trip. Furthermore, if you’re concerned about traveling due to finances, family needs, or taking the time off work, there’s no need to add further stress to the process. That said, if you are being offered an interview at Columbia and you live in Philadelphia, it would behoove you to hop on Amtrak and make the trip to campus. You’re still very much in the courtship phase at this point, and your effort will be noted and appreciated.

Why Interview on Campus?

There are lots of upsides to interviewing on campus. Making the effort to travel there certainly indicates a high level of commitment and enthusiasm for the school. Most of all, it offers an ideal opportunity for you to make a day out of it and immerse yourself in the b-school experience: have lunch with a current student, sit in on a class, take a tour of the campus. There’s no better source of insight into a program than through your own firsthand experience. This will serve you extremely well if you are accepted and are trying to decide which school to attend. Even better, if you schedule your interview at the end of the day, you can discuss what you’ve gained from your time on campus, and how it has reinforced that this is the ideal program for you.

Ultimately use your best judgment and make sure that, wherever you interview, you impress them with your preparation and passion for the program. From there, admissons decisions will be soon be on their way!

[For help preparing for business school interviews, or for general MBA admissions advice, contact us at info@shineadmissions.com]

© Shine/ MBA Admissions Consulting, November 17 2014, 11:00am MT

Hopefully your response was, without any hesitancy, “YES.” The best way to demonstrate your interest in an MBA program is to ask thoughtful questions when given the chance at the end.  (Everyone likes to feel that someone’s interested in them, right?).  So how do you navigate this point of the interview and make a good impression?

Think Positive

Frame your questions in a positive light. Regardless of where this program falls on your wish list, at this point, you’re still marketing yourself. (And this program may turn out to be your only option!)  So don’t put the interviewer on the defensive or express any hesitations you may have.  Questions like, “I am very excited by the tech concentration; can you tell me more about XX aspects of it?” will go farther than implying that you’re still sizing up whether the tech program works for you.

Think Passion

Admissions officers want to feel that, if they extend an offer to you, you will be eager to accept.  Show them how much you know and care about the school already.  Go beyond the information you can find on the school’s website; do additional research by talking with current students and alumni and reading up on news stories featuring the school.  Then ask questions probing into what you’ve learned.

Think About Your Interviewer

Student interviewers will have different perspectives from alumni interviewers, as will admissions staff.  Tailor your questions to the type of person you’re meeting with—and always be prepared for a surprise guest or an understudy.  (Last week, one our clients’ alumni interviews unexpectedly included the head of admissions!)

For instance, you could certainly ask alumni interviewers about the classes they found most memorable, though it wouldn’t be wise to ask them about new academic programs they may not be aware of.  Similarly, admissions staff might not be able to speak from personal experience about attending the program, while current students won’t be able to discuss the impact on their careers after graduation.  (Here’s a safe question for everyone:  “What are your favorite aspects of the school?”)

Think About Yourself

Other good questions are those directly related to you and your goals. If you are interested in specific programs, faculty members, or activities, definitely bring these up!  If you’re interested in international business, ask questions about their travel abroad opportunities.  If you’d be attending school with a significant other, you can ask about partner programs.  Just avoid asking anything too obscure, so you don’t end up stumping your interviewer.

Think of Solidifying Your Candidacy

Once you’re asked a couple of good targeted questions, a good closer is, “Is there anything else I can address?”  It’s a question that encourages your interviewer to find out more about you, and demonstrates that you’re eager for them to find out.  It shows your proactive side.  Moreover, if you did happen to make a misstep, they can use this moment to clarify any miscommunication.

Sealing the Deal

When you’re done, make sure you get the interviewer’s contact information so you can write a thank-you note. It’s both a common courtesy and a way to solidify a connection. Write it immediately following the interview (an email is fine), because they’ll be writing up their report shortly after meeting with you. Keep it short and sweet, sharing how much you got out of your conversation and how it reinforced that this school is an ideal fit for you.  Sound confident about how things went—although if there’s anything critical you need to address about your interview, you can do it here as well.

[For MBA interview preparation, or for general MBA admissions advice, contact us at info@shineadmissions.com]

© Shine/ MBA Admissions Consulting

Most of you are already familiar with the basics of interviewing: dressing to impress, making eye contact, bringing hard copies of your resume, and showing interest in the organization. But are you familiar with what MBA admissions officers specifically are looking for?  Here are four tips to help you seal the deal:

Show Your Likability

When a business school interviews you, above all, they’re looking to assess your fit.  Beyond your impressive application, are you socially functional?  Can you play nicely in the sandbox with others?  Will you thrive there and make friends?  (One top business school’s directive to its interviewers: “No jerks or weenies.”)   So, smile warmly.  Build a connection.  Give examples that showcase your positive interactions with others.  And show them that you know the difference between confidence and arrogance.

Do Your Homework

Know their MBA program (and your target industry) inside and out, and be ready with specific reasons for your interest in their business school. Generic responses like wanting management experience or being part of their diverse student body will only prompt your interviewer to say, “Yes, but what exactly about our school interests you?”  Instead, discuss the school’s unique resources, academic programs, faculty or differentiating qualities, and then explain how they are a fit for you and your goals.

Act Naturally

Your interviewer wants to have a comfortable, flowing conversation as much as you do.  So trust in your natural ability to speak about yourself.  Being overly-scripted is a definite no-no. And just because you know everything about the program doesn’t mean you need to list off all the details. Even if you’re nervous, remember the simple things like: breathe.  Don’t rush through your answers.  And if you’re thrown off by a challenging question, smile and just take a moment to compose a mindful and organized response.

Ask the Right Questions

At the end, you will likely be given time to ask questions.  Step up to the challenge and ask questions that demonstrate your interest and enthusiasm.  Asking surface level questions (i.e. ones that can be answered by looking on the school’s website), will not impress your interviewer nearly as much as thought-provoking ones.  Think of questions that reflect your own goals and interests, and your desire to dive more deeply into the student experience.   But this question of “what to ask your interviewer” is a whole blog topic in and of itself.  Stay tuned for more on that next week…

[For MBA interview preparation, or for general MBA admissions advice, contact us at info@shineadmissions.com]

© Shine/ MBA Admissions Consulting, October 29, 2014, 2:58pm MT

That’s great that you’ve told us that interesting story. However, why should we care about what you just said?

That sounds harsh. Think of it from the admissions committee’s perspective though. How has your story just conveyed your potential as a valued addition to our incoming MBA class?  How has it shown us that you’re primed to have an impact in the world?  In your future organization? At our business school? What value will you be adding to our MBA community?

This short and sweet blog post is a reminder to always ask yourself the question, “So what?” as you’re going about your business school applications. To use my favorite tennis analogy: “Follow through.”  Even a solid hit will lose its momentum if you don’t follow through on your swing.  In essay-writing terms: you’ve just told them a great story, now finish your thought.  Why are you sharing this with them?  The reason, hopefully, is something to the effect of:  because it conveys what I’m capable of, and what I’ll assuredly accomplish in the future.  And that pursuing an MBA at your school will set me up for the greatest success. (In your words, of course.)

Good luck!

[For writing impactful essays, or for general MBA admissions advice, contact us at info@shineadmissions.com]

© Shine/ MBA Admissions Consulting, October 20, 2014, 9:58am MT

Take rankings with a grain of salt

Business school rankings can be a great starting point for determining your “long list” of schools, but you must not (under any circumstances) make them the only factor. Did you know that there are numerous well-respected rankings, none more meaningful than the other? (We track several ourselves.) And each measures different criteria, from student satisfaction to admissions selectivity to ROI. So while rankings can certainly be a helpful way to get started, it’s critical to do your own research about each school from there.  Just because a school is highly ranked doesn’t mean it’s going to be the best fit for you.

How will it set you up for success?

Core classes and electives that fit your goals are extremely important. Do your needs align with the academic strengths of the school?  Are you looking for a general management program, or one where you can select a concentration in your target field? Are there campus resources, student organizations, and activities that align with your interests?  What are your passions, and how can you leverage them?

Hark, who goes there?

Another meaningful factor for consideration is the network you’ll build.  Consider the student/alumni composition of each program and where they are based. Will you make relevant professional connections?  Is their alumni base entwined in your target field?  Many MBA graduates cite the people they met as the most valuable aspect of their business school experience.  Given the time, energy and investment you’ll be making in pursuing your MBA, it’s worth ensuring that you’ll meet the “right” people in the process.

Location, location, location

This will be your home for two years, so choose wisely. Will you (or your partner/family) be happy living there? Is a small town more suited to your personality, or are you gunning for a major metropolis where you can be steps away from businesses of interest? Are you hoping to live in the same city after graduating?  If possible, visit the campuses you’re interested in before applying. Go on a day where you’d be able to see students interacting and talk to professors, admissions officers, and student leaders about what it’s like to attend classes and live in that city.

Diversify your options

Don’t rely on a stellar application to get you into your dream school. If you’re looking to get in the top-20, there’s no such thing as a “safety” school. To truly maximize your options, we recommend that you apply to six MBA programs—four at the absolute minimum, and eight if you’re not confident about your GPA, GMAT score, or other aspects of your candidacy. Above all when applying, listen to your gut. If you didn’t feel a connection with a business school, despite its rankings or offerings, move on to the next. There are plenty of fish in the sea!

[For personalized guidance on choosing the right business school, or general MBA admissions advice, please contact us at info@shineadmissions.com]

© Shine/ MBA Admissions Consulting, October 9, 2014, 1:30pm MT

Check in With Your Recommenders

It has already happened to us again this year: one of our clients didn’t take our advice to give his recommenders a “fake deadline” several days before the real deadline. Minutes before the application was due, the recommender was still having trouble uploading the file, out of the country, and not returning calls. Fortunately, HBS was kind enough to offer a 24-hour grace period, but that is not the situation you want to find yourself in amist your other deadline stresses.

Don’t be shy about checking in with your recommenders. While you want to give them ample time and show them tremendous gratitude, it is ultimately your project to manage and your deliverable in the end.

Fill out the Data Form

Often, MBA applicants will wait until the last possible moment to fill out the data form (a.k.a. part one) and then find out the hard way that there were lots of short answer questions buried within it. What are your post-MBA career goals in 250 words? What was the greatest challenge in your current position in 250 characters? What was your reason for leaving your past jobs? Questions that require substantial thought. Questions that might have impacted what they wrote in their essays.

Admissions will be looking for thoughtful answers to these questions, and they will not be impressed by cookie-cutter or sloppy responses. So work on them as diligently as the rest of the application, and make sure they’re equally as polished.

Get Two Fresh Sets of Eyes

Before hitting submit, we recommend having two people review your b-school applications who haven’t seen it yet. They don’t need to be MBA experts. In fact, at this stage, you aren’t looking for any feedback on content. You just want someone you trust who can proofread for grammatical errors, double-check that you filled out everything, and didn’t put the wrong school name into the application.

Prepare for Second Round Deadlines

Now that you’ve built momentum from round one applications, keep on going. If you’re ultimtely accepted to your first round choices, congratulations! If not, you’ll have used these months wisely to prepare for plan B and have stellar applications all ready to submit to your next round of schools without last-minute scrambling.

[For help with preparing your business school applications, or for general MBA admissions advice, contact us at info@shineadmissions.com]

© Shine/ MBA Admissions Consulting, September 24, 2014, 12:00pm MT

Here is our second installment of resume FAQs, straight from our clients’ mouths. In the era of the incredible shrinking essay section, the resume has become increasingly important in the business school application process. Take the time to make sure yours is as polished a reflection of you as the rest of your application is.

I’ve seen job entries written several different ways. Which one is right?

While there’s no rule, we feel that the strongest job entries begin with a few lines describing your general roles and responsibilities. What were you hired to do every day? This paragraph can also include big picture details about the business, such as annual revenue and growth trends. Then below that, list three to five bullet points highlight your ownable achievements, notable projects or awards. This approach shows the reader not only what your job was, but exactly how you added value in that role.

Be very specific about your accomplishments, quantify everything possible, and take credit where credit is due. If you created a system to save the company $125K in operating costs, say so. Even better, don’t just say that you did it; explain why you did it and how. Use vibrant details to describe the impact you had.

What are “Action Words”?

Action words are verbs that express what you did, such as “developed,” “created,” “managed,” “analyzed.” Action words are always your best choice because they show the specific steps you took to generate your results. Avoid nebulous phrases like “worked on,” “responsible for,” “tasked with” or “helped to” that don’t add any value in understanding your actions.

Another term you may be familiar with is active voice—another must for both resume and essay writing. Active voice (“I did X”) is always the preferred writing style to passive voice (“X happened to me”) because it gives you ownership of the result.

How important is it to list extracurriculars?

Admissions committees are looking to see if you are likely to be an engaged, active student at business school, with the ability to balance academic responsibilities with student life. If you earned a 3.4 GPA in college while deeply involved with campus activities, that can impress them more than someone with a 3.8 who did nothing but go home and study every day. Highlight every leadership role that you took. You’d also be well served to add a “personal” section at the bottom of your resume with the interests and hobbies that you currently enjoy outside of work.

Should I end each line with a period?

The key to resume formatting is consistency. If you end one bullet point with a period, then end all bullet points with a period. If you include dates for one of your club activities, include dates for all of them. Make sure spacing is even and lined up precisely. Show the admissions committee that you are detail-oriented, attentive and invested in each step of this process, just as you will be as a student, and as future professional reflecting their program.

[For help preparing a standout resume for business school, or for general MBA admissions advice, contact us at info@shineadmissions.com]

© Shine/ MBA Admissions Consulting, September 15, 2014, 10:00am MT

While schools are not going to reject you for minor details, like whether you list your work experience before your education, there are some legitimate dos and don’ts. Here are some responses to some of our commonly asked questions:

How much time must I spend finessing this? It’s just the resume.

Your resume makes the first impression in your application. In that moment, admissions officers develop a crucial first sense of who you are, what you do, what you’ve done, and how much value you added along the way. They get a glimpse into your organization skills (does it have a logical flow?), your attention to detail (is your punctuation consistent?), and your ability to communicate with someone outside your industry (is it written in Greek?)—all of which goes into their assessment of whether you’d fit in well to the business school environment.

How long should my resume be?

The rule is: one resume page for every 10 years of work experience. For the typical MBA applicant, this means your resume must be on one page. Don’t be thrown off by the multi-page CV that you may use at your consulting firm for internal project staffing. MBA admissions committees want to see one page resumes, with only rare exception.

To get there, don’t compromise on readability. 10-point font should be your absolute minimum (Times New Roman is always a good choice), and you’ll want to leave reasonable white space around the margins, section breaks, and entries. Instead, pare down your less important roles, such as internships and short-term positions.

Should I include an Executive Summary?

No. If your resume has done its job well, it should be able to speak for itself. You’ll have ample opportunity to explain your story further in your data form, essays, and hopefully interviews as well. (Then later in life, when you’re applying for jobs, your cover letter will serve this purpose.) Instead, use that precious new real estate to highlight additional accomplishments.

What section headers should I use?

Start with either Education or Professional Experience as your #1 and #2 (you decide which one is more impressive). From there, you can customize it to the story you’re trying to tell. If you have done substantial volunteer work, then you may want a Community section. You could also break out a section for Special Skills (language, computer, technical), Certifications, or Designations (CFA, Series 6). Just don’t miss the chance to include a Personal or Interests section at the bottom and potentially connect with your reader over your shared love of historical fiction, Italian cooking, or triathlons.

More to come on resumes in our next blog post. Stay tuned!

[For help with preparing a standout resume for business school, or for general MBA admissions advice, contact us at info@shineadmissions.com]

© Hillary Schubach, August 20, 2014, 10:00am MT

Who are the Right People to Ask?

I’m often approached for advice on who candidates should ask to write their recommendations. You have to choose the right people—that is, those to whom you have reported in some way, formally or informally.  People who were in a position to judge you.  And, most importantly, people who have worked with you directly and can speak about you from their firsthand experience. An ideal set of recommenders can talk about you from varying perspectives (rather than two people from the same project team). They also think extremely highly of you, and they are willing to spend the time writing about it to help you achieve your dreams.

Should you make an effort to ask an alum of the school to which you’re applying? If all things are equal, then sure, why not. If you’re choosing between two great options, it can’t hurt for the admissions committee to see an endorsement from someone personally invested in the school.  However the other factors are really the most important ones to consider, not their pedigrees or impressive-sounding titles. It’s about finding the people who can provide the most intimate and glowing accounts of how they’ve seen you bring your skill set to life.

How Do I Prepare Them?

A few months out, you should be putting the bug in your recommenders’ ears and making sure that they’re on board for what’s to come. About six weeks lead time is appropriate for them to tackle the recommendations themselves.

In advance, set up a call or meeting and provide them with a brief writeup of your target schools and their deadlines (note: their deadlines should be well in advance of yours). Recap your background, goals, and why business school is your best next step. Give them a few thought-starters on strengths, qualities and achievements you may want them to highlight—and then encourage them to add as much beyond that as they can. The top business schools are looking for future leaders and managers. Are you a high achiever? Someone who takes initiative? Are you able to influence others? Do you adapt well to change?  Remind them of a few stories that might help them convey the potential you hold.  The best recommendations provide specific anecdotes and examples to support their commentary.

What’s Changed?

In the past, each MBA program had a different set of recommendation questions. What a burden on your recommenders! Thankfully, several schools have recently agreed upon a common set of questions, so if you’re applying to Harvard, Stanford, Darden, Yale, Columbia, Wharton, and Kellogg, among others, you can feel a little less guilty about the time that your recommenders will need to invest. That said, you’ll still want to encourage them to customize each recommendation to the school they’re writing for, and you can prepare them by writing up a few thoughts on why you’re so passionate about attending each program.

What Hasn’t Changed?

Your recommenders must write the recommendations themselves.  If they aren’t willing to do that, respectfully ask someone else who will.  Waive your right to see them, and show your confidence about what’s inside. No cheating. No peeking.  Live and respect the honor code (your candidacy depends on it) and know that if you’ve picked the right people, they’ll do a better job bragging about you than you ever would.

[For more information about recommendation strategy, handling challenging recommenders, or general MBA admissions advice, email us at info@shineadmissions.com]

© Hillary Schubach, August 6, 2014 3:49 pm MT

Make Sure Your Target Business Schools Accept the GRE

Before you get too excited about the prospect of throwing away your GMAT books, make sure your dream schools accept the GRE. Some MBA programs still only accept the GMAT, citing that it more directly tests the analytical and quantitative concepts you’ll need to utilize in business school. Others do accept the GRE, yet they state a clear preference for the GMAT. Know what the admissions requirements are at each school you’re targeting before you commit to an exam.

GMAT vs GRE Structure

While both tests assess verbal and quantitative reasoning, critical thinking, and writing, the way in which these tests ask you questions varies. It’s similar material being presented in different ways, which means that for some people, the GMAT makes perfect sense, but for others, the GRE approach is more intuitive.

Only the GRE tests vocabulary, which could be a challenge for those for whom English is a second language. However, the GRE is a bit shorter in time and length, it costs less than the GMAT, and test centers are more widely available. Furthermore, the GMAT math is considered more difficult, so if math isn’t your strong suit, the GRE may serve you better. Conversely, if you come from an financial services background, it might be hard to justify taking anything but the GMAT.

Why Else Should I Consider the GRE?

If you’re considering business school but may switch gears and attend a different grad program, or if you’re pursuing a joint degree, the GRE may be your smarter investment. Most grad programs (except for law and medical school) require the GRE for admission, whereas the GMAT is designed only for business school applicants. So if you’re unsure of your plans, even if you get a stellar score on the GMAT, you wouldn’t be able to use it unless you go the MBA route.

So Which Test Do I Choose?

The best way to find out if the GMAT or GRE is better suited for you is to take the free practice test offered for each exam. See which felt more intuitive and which produced the highest score.

The GMAT continues to be the gold standard for business schools, though the GRE is rapidly gaining traction. Ultimately, if you’re grappling with poor performance on the GMAT, it’s better to get an outstanding score on the GRE that can demonstrate your aptitude, than to continually struggle with one that may jeopardize your candidacy.

[For personalized advice on choosing the right test for you, or other MBA admissions questions, please contact us at info@shineadmissions.com]

© Hillary Schubach, July 30, 2014 10:10 am MT

Not long ago, one top-five school examined the profiles of students who struggled in their MBA program, and they had one thing in common: low GMAT scores. This is NOT to say that a low GMAT score is a predictor of failure in business school; rather, a high GMAT score is generally a predictor of success. It gives the admissions committee confidence that you can handle the academic aspects of the program.

Your GMAT score is therefore a very important component of your MBA application, though it’s not the only factor. Here are three ways to know whether you should consider retaking the exam.

1. Is Your Score in the Mid-80% of Accepted Students?

Most schools publish the range in which the middle 80% of their students’ GMAT scores have fallen. For example, Wharton’s GMAT range of accepted students last year was 630-790, but the middle 80% of students fell between 690-760. That means if you’ve scored in the mid-to-upper 700s, you have a very competitive score for Wharton. Conversely, if you scored a 650, you need to know that 90% of admitted students (the mid-80% range PLUS the top 10%) scored above you. Getting accepted to Wharton with a 650 GMAT is certainly possible (proven by the student accepted with a 630). However, you need to be realistic and consider how compelling your other credentials are to compensate for it.

2. Is Your Quantitative Score Much Lower Than Your Verbal?

MBA programs are quantitative and analytical, which means that the top-tier schools will pay close attention to your quantitative score. So if your verbal score is in the 99^th percentile but your quantitative score is 45^th percentile, then you’ll want to consider retaking the exam.  Particularly if you were an English major who’s never taken a single math or business course, or if you went into a “softer side” career in the social sciences.  It’s important to show the admissions officers that you’ll be ready for the analytical rigors of their program–and if your academic or professional credentials don’t accomplish that for you, it can really help to get your quantitative score way up into the 80-90th percentile. Whereas if you do have a heavy quant background, you’ll have other opportunities to ease those concerns.

3. Does the Score Reflect Your Testing Potential?

If you have already given the GMAT your all, and you are still not satisfied with your score, ask yourself: how likely am I to fare better if I take it again? Do I consistently score higher in my practice exams (taken in real test conditions)? Did I have an off day? Or does my practice score hover right around where I am? If you’ve truly maxed out your studying, you’ve already taken it multiple times, and a re-test may very possibly bring your score down, then it is time to move on to other aspects of your application. However, if some additional study time would truly enable you to polish out your weaknesses, and get essential practice tests under your belt, then go for it.

Ultimately, your GMAT score is just part of the snapshot that makes up you. The decision to retake the exam comes down to what you can handle and how realistic you are about your candidacy as a whole.

[For personalized advice on taking the GMAT or any other MBA program questions and concerns, please contact us at info@shineadmissions.com]

© Hillary Schubach, July 24, 2014, 11:25am MT

Are you ready to apply to business school this year? Maybe you’ve been prepping for the GMAT or staring at your resume, unsure of what to say. Think you can’t do much right now? Think again! It’s time to start thinking ahead to when you will be applying and how you can make the most of these early months. You’ll be a stronger candidate that’s not only ahead of the curve, but also (hopefully) a little less stressed about the process!

5-6 Months Out

Use this time to assess and evaluate. Do you still need to take the GMAT or GRE? Now is the perfect time, considering how time-consuming preparation will be. Are you dissatisfied with your GMAT score? Sign up for new prep classes. Or if you feel like your undergraduate coursework wasn’t top notch, then take–and ace!–a local or online course in accounting, finance or statistics.

At this point, you should definitely be scouring school websites to identify the best MBA programs for you. Ask yourself the tough questions: beyond ranking and reputation, does the school offer what you truly need? Does it offer coursework that will help you achieve your career goals? What about extracurricular activities so you can meet people aligned with your interests? Are there career services teams and alumni that can help you get recruited and hired for your dream job? Also, pay attention for the best fit with the school’s culture, values, geography, class size, and teaching methods.

When it comes to your resume, you can never start too early. Add your previous positions, as those won’t change, and leave room for updates to your current position. Use this time to think about your academic and professional accomplishments, responsibilities, and management roles. Forge a connection with your reader by adding your personal interests and activities.

Do you think you’ve gained enough leadership experience? If not, find ways to take on more responsibility at your company or in your extracurricular activities. Talk to your managers about strengthening your weaker areas through training courses or stretch assignments. If you’ve got some downtime, see if you can find a deal and travel internationally to expand your world view. Even better, explore ways for you to gain some travel experience through work.

As much as business schools want to see impressive professional credentials, they also want to see your activities and hobbies beyond work. Join the social committee at the art museum if that’s where your passion lies. Make time for volunteering at an animal shelter, or breaking your own personal record at your next marathon. Just be true to yourself, embrace your interests, and let them envision you as an active member of the incoming class.

Given that it’s going to take some time, think now about your preferred recommenders to write your recommendation. You ideally want someone you’ve reported to (formally or informally), and who thinks extremely highly of you. Look at previous applications so you know what kind of questions are asked, and let them know what the process will entail. Going to them now gives them enough time to mentally prepare and budget the time in their schedules.

3-4 Months Out

You’ve done the preliminary research. Now it’s time to take stock of your favorite MBA programs by following their blogs, social media, and newsletters. Find out when school starts up and see if you can schedule a time to visit the campus. Additionally, attend MBA fairs and school receptions to gain additional insight about the programs.

At this time, make sure you’ve reached out to your recommenders and that they have all the necessary info they need to help you, including deadlines!

You should also start the essay-writing process. If you’ve just taken the GMAT or GRE, remember to leave yourself time to recover from the exam so you can tackle the essays refreshed and ready to write. Begin with lots of brainstorming, and then mapping out your content ideas across the entire application, rather than diving into each essay in a vacuum. Once you feel confident in your topics and how they fit together, you’ll have an easier time putting pen to paper and writing those first drafts.

1-2 Months Out

Now that class is in session, take time to visit the business schools that interest you most. While not required, this experience will give you unmatched insight into the curriculum, the culture, the campus, and what to expect from the program. If travel isn’t possible, you can still learn a great deal by setting up phone meetings with current students or alumni.

This would also be a good time to reconnect with your recommenders and make sure they’re on track with your deadlines. Follow up every week or two as appropriate. It’s your project to manage. The last thing you’ll want is to be nervous about them missing the deadline.

Finally, keep whipping your essays into shape. It’ll take a lot of work to get them to the quality level needed to be competitive, but it’ll be well worth your time. Once you’re done, be sure to get two fresh sets of eyes on them for proofreading, double check the exact deadline timing (is it 5pm or 11:59pm, and in which time zone?), and submit them well in advance of those final minutes.

[For help with planning your MBA applications, or general MBA admissions advice, please contact info@shineadmissions.com]

© Hillary Schubach, July 8, 2014, 10:24am MT

Rankings: For Entertainment Use Only

Rankings can certainly be a helpful starting point to build your initial b-schools list. (The latest rankings are always available in the notes section of our Facebook page.)

However, they should be taken with a grain of salt. Each of them measures different criteria: Forbes calculates ROI five years after graduation, Businessweek looks closely at student and recruiter satisfaction, US News includes GMAT/admissions selectivity as well as a survey of MBA program leaders.  Which is why a phenomenal program like Yale SOM is ranked everywhere from #8 to #24, depending on who you ask.

Instead, through your own research, identify the strongest programs in your areas of interest.  Consider opportunities to gain knowledge and connections both inside and outside of the classroom.  Rank them for yourself.  And then, weigh the other factors that will help you determine if the school is a good fit.

Here are the ones we think are worth considering:

Student Experience

• Location: Where exactly will you be spending your two years?  Do you care if you are in a big city or a small town?  Are you looking to have access to certain businesses outside of your doorstep?
• Culture: What is the school’s culture like?  What does it value?  If you can, observe this firsthand by visiting the campus, sitting in on classes, and spending the afternoon in the student center.  If not, you can still get a great sense from talking with current students and alumni and attending information sessions in your city.  Later on, the interview process will give you some additional impressions.
• Extracurriculars: What types of student activities can you become involved in after class?  Are there professional clubs that fit with your career goals and interests?  Cultural clubs?  Social/athletic clubs?  (And if not, does the school welcome you to start them yourself?)

Educational Approach

• Curriculum: Do the core classes and electives fit with your academic needs?  Is it important for you to be able to place out of classes that you’ve already taken?  Are you looking to pursue a concentration in your target field?  Again, what are the program’s strengths in your areas of interest?
• Learning environment: Is large vs. small class size important to you?  What are the primary teaching methods (e.g. case study, team projects, lectures)?  Does the academic calendar work with your timing?  Are there speakers and conferences that can supplement your learning outside the classroom?  Are there faculty members you would like to learn from, or perhaps pursue an independent study with?  Will you be able to get hands-on, practical experience?

Career Support

• Job placement: How will the career services department support you in pursuing your goals?  Are there career conferences, club events and “treks” for your fields of interest?  Are your target companies recruiting on campus?   If not, will you have support in pursuing those companies independently?
• Connections: Is there a helpful and active alumni network that you can draw upon, both while you are a student and after graduation?  Where in the world are they based?
• Credentials: Do those in your target industry recognize the value of an MBA from that program?  In your target geographic area?  How much does this matter to you?

Quality + Quantity

Once you’ve picked the right schools, don’t put all of your eggs in one basket. There is no such thing as a “safety school” when applying to a top MBA program–and it’s important to make sure that your MBA plans aren’t devastated if your dream school decides not to give you an acceptance.  There are LOTS of outstanding MBA programs that can deliver on the above, for you personally.  Create option value for yourself by applying to enough schools.  In our experience, that number is a minimum of four programs, but ideally six (or even eight, with the last few trickling into the 2nd round).

[For personalized help with school selection, or general MBA admissions advice, please contact us at info@shineadmissions.com]

© Hillary Schubach, July 10, 2013, 11:16 am MT