UNC Kenan-Flagler Admissions:The role of the career management center

This is the third video in a three-part series. In this video the school gives you a behind-the-scenes look into UNC Kenan-Flagler’s MBA Admissions office, and it discusses the role of their career management experts in the admissions process.

Link: MBA Admissions Video

Business Week: Business Schools Revamp the Application

The MBA application process is starting to change, with the GRE gaining ground on the GMAT, earlier deadlines, several schools such as UCLA Anderson and Chicago Booth, are exploring and experimenting different methods of assessing applicants with or without the standard written application.

Read the complete article here

Rose Martinelli clarified in her blog post that though the article in the business week covered the spirit of her conversation, it unfortunately missed providing the context.

She said," The PowerPoint presentation was designed to elicit a sense of fit with Booth culture. Essentially, it presented applicants with a unique and somewhat ambiguous opportunity to convey information of their choice. It allowed applicants to tell us what was important and relevant in their candidacy and helped us learn much more about who they are than can be prompted through standard essay questions. It also has helped us evaluate how candidates navigate ambiguity through various frameworks and strategies. As applicants and consultants became more familiar with this exercise, however, we began to see more and more presentations that felt standard, rote and predictable"

Rose mentioned that as the school approaches the new application year, the school has begun to think through each of the different application components. "While this may be the last year of the presentation requirement in itscurrent form, we have not yet made any final decisions as to what next year's application will look like. Again, our focus is not on creating a clever or “gimmicky” application, but one that provides candidates the opportunity to convey the most relevant information that helps us to assess fit in our selection process. " said Rose.

Finally Rose said that the Bottom-line is that the PowerPoint presentation has been incredibly successful in their evaluation process in identifying students who are great fit and match for Chicago. She added,"We have enjoyed this process of discovery and pioneering something new and different in MBA admissions, and are looking forward to continuing that trend in the future"

UVA/ Darden: Online Video Chat with Sara Neher

According to the blogpost on Darden Admission news Blog, Director of Admissions Sara Neher will host an online video chat on Thursday, March 11 from 12:30-1:30 p.m. (EST) for Round 3 applicants and prospective students who are thinking about applying in the fall of 2010.

Aspirants can ask questions about the application process, as well as general questions about the MBA program. Participants will type questions into the chat interface and Sara Neher will answer the questions directly via video.

To access the chat, you need to go to the following link a few minutes before the chat begins: http://dm.darden.virginia.edu/admissionschat/?session=2010_03_11_admissionschat

You will be asked a couple of brief questions. Once you hit the submit button, you will be directed to the video chat

Link: Online Video Chat with Sara Neher

UCLA Anderson MBA: Gain an insider’s perspective on what admissions officers look for in successful MBA applicants

According to UCLA MBA Admissions & Financial Aid Team as the Round 3 application deadline (March 17th) is fast approaching, Bschool aspirants can enjoy an opportunity to talk directly with Assistant Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid, Mae Jennifer Shores.

The webinar will be held on Thursday, March 11th from 5 to 6 PM (PST).

Join Shores for a candid conversation on what makes the UCLA Anderson MBA program so interesting and diverse, and gain an insider’s perspective on what admissions officers look for in successful MBA applicants.

To join the webinar, register here

Also go through: An Admissions Perspective on MBA Consultants

Harvard Business School 2+2 Program Essay Topics/ Deadlines

The Harvard’s 2+2 Program Application deadlines for the MBA class entering fall of 2013:

There are two key dates for the 2+2 Program in the Summer of 2010:

*2+2 Application Submission: June 15, 2010

*2+2 Admissions Notification: September 2010

Essay Topics

Required Questions:

*What are your three most substantial accomplishments and why do you view them as such? (600-word limit)

*What would you like us to know about your undergraduate academic experience? (400-word limit)

*What have you learned from a mistake? (400-word limit)

Please also respond to one of the following (400-word limit each):

*Discuss how you have engaged with a community or organization.

*What area of the world are you most curious about and why?

*What is your career vision and why is this choice meaningful to you?

Link: HBS 2+2 Program: Application Process

UVA/ Darden: Sara Neher talks about Round 2 Interviews and Applying in Round 3

In her video blog this week, Director of Admissions Sara Neher talks about an upcoming video chat (on mar 3, 2010) for people thinking about applying in Round 3, activities going on with school's career development and corporate relations offices, as well as a quick update on Round 2 interviews:

Chicago Booth School of Business: Few important things to consider when applying in Round 3

Rose Martinelli, director of admissions and financial aid at the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business reported on her blog, "Somewhere along the line, R3 inherited the reputation of being somewhat irrelevant in the overall admissions cycle -- a Round where you made a last ditch effort to gain admission while perhaps believing that your chances for acceptance were very slim. The truth is that R3 can be a bit more competitive simply because the majority of applications and acceptances will occur in Rounds One and Two." She added,"However, I’d like to emphasize that a good portion of our class will be admitted from R3 as well as a good number being placed on our summer waitlist to help us manage class size this summer. So, while fewer spots in the class may be available, it’s important to put together the best possible application you can. "

Rose said that R3 exists for a reason! She advised aspirants about few important things to consider when they in apply in Round 3. She stated, "Candidates are accepted each year at this time so don’t buy in to the doom and gloom. Your dream school should be on your radar no matter what people ‘are saying’! Great applicants and great applications are valued in every round as we seek to craft the best class we can!"

With respect to international applicants she stated,"We also accept international candidates in R3. Despite our encouragement for internationals to apply preferably in Rounds One or Two, this is only a suggestion to make your life easier in terms of planning and making such a large transition, but it does not preclude you from R3 consideration. Because our program begins in September and R3 decisions are released in mid-May, our international students have plenty of time to process their visa during the summer months." She said, "Borderline or standard applicants will be up against harder competition in R3, but this is true for every round in the current MBA market! So R3 doesn’t change your need for a strong, well -thought through application."

Rose advised,"Consider letting us in on why you are applying in R3 if it’s relevant. It can ease the reader’s questions about your intentions. Don’t be afraid to be honest---we’ve been in your shoes. We get it!"

She further made clear ,"We can tell if your application is rushed or if you’re just hedging your bets by throwing one more application together. The one thing you really must be sure of in R3 is that your application reflects full thought and effort. A great profile with a thrown together application won’t do the trick in any round, especially R3."

She finally said,"if Booth is your choice, don’t eliminate yourself from a chance at being admitted because it’s R3. You might need to take a more strategic approach, but you never know what the outcome might be unless you try – Nothing ventured, nothing gained!"

Link: Round 3???